Adults volunteer their time, talents and skills to organizations that mean something to them and appreciate their volunteer work. Many may say, “I don’t do it for the recognition.” Their reward is in the giving and knowing they are making a difference in someone’s life. However, they still like to know that someone appreciates what they do.

Informal Recognition: Simple Ways to Honor Volunteers
A simple “thank you” goes a long way to let individuals know that you have noticed their work and appreciate their volunteer service.  Here are additional easy ways for girls, parents and service team members to encourage volunteers and thank them for all they do for Girl Scouts.

• Make posters or giant cards showing how important and appreciated your leaders are.
• Give them each a rose or a few daisies!
• Call your leader just to say, “Thank you!”
• Write a note telling your leader how she has helped you.
• Be on time taking your daughter and picking her up on time for meetings.
• Offer to help as a field trip coordinator, badge consultant, newsletter editor, webmaster or communications coordinator, or in some other way.
• Show interest in what your daughter is doing in Girl Scouts!
• Give your leaders a framed photo of the troop or a collage of pictures from a special event or trip.

Formal Recognition: GSNCA and GSUSA Adult Recognition Programs
Our council’s and GSUSA’s adult recognition programs are designed to remind us of the truly significant service given by individuals. These council and national awards recognize outstanding accomplishments that go well beyond what is expected of the person in the position and the awards reflect how the person’s service meets or exceeds defined criteria. To ensure that adult awards are based on quality and significant contributions and our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we follow a process of nominating, reviewing and approving these recognitions. For all recognitions the nominee must be a registered Girl Scout adult and meet specific criteria.

Check to see if your candidate has already received an award and if so, which award(s). Click here to see the awards criteria and download the Adult Recognitions At-a-Glance to help you determine:

• which awards would be appropriate for your nominee(s);
• whether letters of endorsements are required and how many;
• who approves the award.

Please print, sign and either mail, scan or fax all forms by the deadline to Karen Wales, Director of Volunteer Management Services, 1515 Sparkman Dr., NW, Huntsville, AL  35816 or fax to 256-882-1750.  Letters of endorsement, if required, must be included with the nomination for the nomination to be considered complete.

The nomination deadline is January 31, 2013 for the following awards:
Volunteer of Excellence (NEW)
Appreciation Pin & Honor Pin
Thanks Badge & Thanks Badge II
President’s Award (below)
Juliette’s Pearls Award (NEW), Juliette Low Community Partnership Award (NEW) and Heart for Service Award (NEW)

Nominations for the following recognitions must be received by March 1, 2013 for presentations in April and May 2013:
Volunteer Years of Service
Discover Award (NEW), Outstanding Mentor Award (NEW) & Helping Hand Award (NEW)
Volunteer Development Awards (NEW)

Please click on the awards listed above for the appropriate nomination forms or look below for Letter of Endorsement forms. Sample nomination comments that may help you write nomination statements may be found in the Volunteer’s Guide to Adult Recognitions.

GSUSA Supporting Documentation Form
Letter of Endorsement for Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama Adult Recognitions
Letter of Endorsement for GSUSA Adult Awards

President’s Award
The President’s Award recognizes the efforts of a service unit in moving its assigned area or audience toward the council’s goals and objectives during a fiscal or membership year. Although the primary traditional method of delivery of service is through the service team, this award may be presented to groups that serve a specific audience, such as an inner-city group, special needs or other outreach audience.

To receive the award the service unit team or group must complete an application and attain at least 85 points. The President’s Award with laurels requires at least 100 points. Points are earned for successfully achieving goals, such as an increase in girl membership, retaining leaders and team diversity. Points are also awarded for demonstrating community involvement; communications with all service unit troops and girls in non-troop pathways; and timely completion of required paperwork. “BONUS” points can be earned for outstanding achievement in several of the nationally created criteria.

Working in collaboration with your Community Development Manager to develop how Girl Scouting will be offered in your community is the first step to earning this award. So take a look at the criteria and start now to earn this award!